Orbital Express Program Moves Ahead With Phase 2 Award

SPACEWAR

Full Size Chart

The Orbital Express Space Operations Architecture program will develop and demonstrate autonomous techniques for on-orbit refueling and reconfiguration of satellites that could support a broad range of future U.S. national security and commercial space programs. An important element of the program is the enabling nature of such capability for new space missions and its potential to reduce space program costs through spacecraft life extension (�Pre Planned Product Improvement,� or �P3I�), comparable to what is done today with aircraft. During Phase I (Concept Definition) the type of satellite servicing to be emulated in the on-orbit demonstration will be identified (to include the type of hardware upgrades and reconfiguration to be supported, and the techniques to be adopted in transferring hardware and fuel between spacecraft), and detailed designs will be developed for �industry standard,� nonproprietary satellite-to-satellite mechanical and electrical interfaces enabling on-orbit hardware and fluid transfers. Concepts for auxiliary missions for a servicing spacecraft, such as supporting operations of micro-satellites, will also be developed. A preliminary system design will emerge in conjunction with developments in software and sensors necessary for autonomous space operations to assess the potential significant cost savings for space operations. In Phase II, detailed design of the on-orbit demonstration spacecraft (the service vehicle, the demonstration �target,� or serviced satellite, and the depot for replacement hardware and fuel) will occur and the spacecraft will be fabricated, integrated, ground tested, and space-qualified. In FY 2005, the demonstration spacecraft will be launched. On-orbit, the Orbital Express spacecraft will repeatedly demonstrate the feasibility of autonomously upgrading, refueling and reconfiguring satellites. Following an initial 4-6 month demonstration, the Orbital Express demonstration system will be transitioned to a follow-on customer for additional test and evaluation in Y 2003, this program will be funded in Project ASP-02, Space Programs and Technology.

Washington - Mar 13, 2002
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced Friday the selection of Boeing's Phantom Works at Seal Beach in California as the team to perform Phase II of the Orbital Express Advanced Technology Demonstration. The team received a $99,144,499 modification to another transaction for prototypes agreement.

The team will contribute an additional $13,340,000 in cost-share. Team members include: Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo.; TRW, Space and Technology Division, Redondo Beach, Calif.; MD Robotics, Brampton, Ontario, Canada; and Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

During this 42-month phase, the Boeing team will finalize the design, develop and fabricate a prototype servicing satellite, the Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations satellite (ASTRO), and a surrogate serviceable satellite, NextSat, and conduct an on-orbit demonstration to validate the technical feasibility and mission utility of autonomous, robotic on-orbit satellite servicing.

A key element of this demonstration is a non-proprietary satellite servicing interface standard that can be implemented by any satellite manufacturer to enable servicing.

DARPA strongly believes that routine, autonomous satellite servicing will provide spacecraft with unprecedented freedom of maneuver, allowing satellite coverage to be adjusted or optimized at will, or enabling spacecraft to employ unpredictable maneuvers to counter possible threats or adversary activity scheduling.

It is also anticipated that routine, autonomous, preplanned upgrades or reconfiguration of spacecraft components will dramatically reduce the "time to market" of new technology into operational satellites, improving mission performance more efficiently than through block replacements of satellite constellations.

DARPA foresees that an Orbital Express-derived satellite servicing architecture will usher in a revolution in space operations, enabling new and enhanced satellite capabilities supporting not only national security missions, but civil and commercial space activities as well.

Maj. James Shoemaker, USAF, DARPA's Orbital Express program manager, explained, "Robotic on-orbit satellite servicing has been analyzed many times, has always looked good on paper, but has always been judged to have too high a technical risk and cost uncertainty to convince a program manager to implement on-orbit servicing in an operational satellite program.

Orbital Express will demonstrate the key enabling technologies for on-orbit servicing, and provide real-world experience that will enable future operational systems to make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions."

SPACEWAR

Lead Systems Integrator for Future Combat Systems Announced

Washington - Mar 8, 2002
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Army announced Friday the selection of the team to support the concept and technology development phase of the Future Combat Systems program. Subject to negotiation, the Boeing-SAIC team will receive a $154 million award for this 16-month effort.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.